Leadership (Abuja)
27 June 2008
editorial
Today's election run-off in Zimbabwe is dogged by inherent flaws. President Robert Mugabe has vowed to go ahead with the poll despite the withdrawal of his rival, Mr. Morgan Tsvangirai. That casts a great credibility pall on the exercise.
Tsvangirai, who won the first round but not enough to avoid a run-off, had alleged state-sponsored intimidation and murder of thousands of his supporters. At the height of the blood-curdling spree, he had to take refuge in the Dutch Embassy.
Mugabe's first round defeat damaged his aura of invincibility. His ZANU-PF also lost the Parliament, for the first time in 28 years. Imposition of sanctions, freezing of assets and travel bans only heightened violence, inflation, hunger and social misery. Calls by respected statesmen, sub-regional, regional and global multilateral organisations for postponement of the run-off went unheeded.
We condemn any legitimisation based on a one-man, violence-riddled run-off. It is undemocratic, evil, barbaric and inhuman. We call on Mugabe to step aside for an interim Government of National Unity.
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